It took 121 hands of heads-up play, but we finally have a winner in Event #10: $1,500 Limit Hold'em, Brent Wheeler. Wheeler bested Mark Mierkalns to earn $191,605 and his first career gold bracelet. The Chicagoan now has over three quarters of a million dollars in career tournament earnings and 14 World Series of Poker cashes.

Ly was one of the leaders on the money bubble, but fell down the counts during the latter stages of the evening. On Day 3 he busted to Grayson Scoggin, who turned a pair of kings against Ly's ace-high. The river was a blank, and Ly was eliminated.

The unofficial final table lasted for longer than an hour, until finally Ahmed Mohamed busted in 10th place. Mohamed got into a flip with ace-king against Malissia Zapata's pocket queens, and the queens held up.

Alex Queen, Brian Nichols, and William James were the next three players to hit the rail. Queen and Nichols were very short stacked when they exited, while James lost a series of pots at the start of Level 24. Finally, James was all in against two opponents, and lost to Mierkalns who rivered a pair of tens.

Wheeler, who entered the final table seventh in chips, started heads-up play with a small lead, and began to run away with it. Then suddenly, in Level 27, the pendulum swung. Mierkalns built a more than 2:1 chip lead, but Wheeler came storming back. In the end, Wheeler finished the deed in Level 28, and you can read that hand below.

Place

Player

Prize

1st

Brent Wheeler

$191,605

2nd

Mark Mierkalns

$118,300

3rd

Malissia Zapata

$76,904

4th

Chiduziem Obi

$56,485

5th

Grayson Scoggin

$42,074

6th

William James

$31,747

7th

Brian Nichols

$24,232

8th

Alex Queen

$18,703

9th

Eric Froehlich

$14,585

Congratulations to Wheeler for shipping the 10th bracelet awarded this summer. There are still 52 more up for grabs, so be sure to check back to PokerNews for all of your exclusive live tournament updates from the 44th annual WSOP!

Hand #241: Wheeler raised on the button, Mark Mierkalns three-bet, and Wheeler called. The flop came , Mierkalns led out, Wheeler made it two bets, Mierkalns made it three, Wheeler made it four, and Mierkalns moved all in. Wheeler called.

Mierkalns:
Wheeler:

Wheeler was drawing to a ten to double or running pair cards higher than a three to chop the pot, but it wasn't to be as the turn and river came , respectively. Mierkalns was eliminated in second place, earning $118,300.

Hand #226: Mark Mierkalns raised, Brent Wheeler called, and the flop came . Wheeler check-called a bet, then check-called another when the turned. Both players checked when the completed the board, and Mierkalns won with . Wheeler showed .

Hand #227: Mierkalns called a raise, then check-called a bet on the flop. The turn was the , Mierkalns checked again, and Wheeler bet. Mierkalns check-raised, Wheeler called, and the completed the board. Both players checked, and Mierkalns announced that he had jack-high. Wheeler showed for ace-high and won the hand.

Hand #228: Mierkalns raised and won the pot.

Hand #229: Mierkalns received a walk.

Hand #230: Wheeler three-bet, then led out on a flop of . Mierkalns raised, Wheeler called, and the turn was the . Wheeler led again, this time Mierkalns called, and the completed the board. Wheeler bet, Mierkalns called, and Wheeler showed for a pair of aces. It was good.

Hand #215: Brent Wheeler raised, Mark Mierkalns three-bet, and Wheeler called. Mierkalns led out on the flop, Wheeler called, and Mierkalns check-folded on the turn.

Hand #216: Wheeler called a raise then check-folded on an flop.

Hand #217: Mierkalns received a walk.

Hand #218: Mierkalns raised and won the pot.

Hand #219: Mierkalns called a raise, then check-called a bet on a flop of . Both players checked when the turned, and the completed the board. Mierkalns bet, Wheeler raised, Mierkalns made it three bets, and Wheeler called. When Wheeler called, Mierkalns mucked, prompting Wheeler to open up .

Hand #206: Mark Mierkalns raised on the button, Brent Wheeler three-bet, and Mierkalns called. Wheeler led out on the flop, Mierkalns called, and the turn was the . Wheeler bet again, Mierkalns raised, and Wheeler folded.

Hand #207: Mierkalns called a raise, then check-called a bet on the flop () and the turn (). The river was the , Mierkalns opted to lead out, and Wheeler tank-called, showing . It was good.

Hand #208: Wheeler three-bet, then led out on a flop of . Mierkalns called. The turn was the , Wheeler led out again, and Mierkalns raised. Wheeler called. The river was the , Wheeler check-called a bet, and Mierkalns mucked when Wheeler showed for eights and fives.

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